How to Remove Bush Stumps in 10 Steps for a Picture-Perfect Yard

Before you start digging, you should call 811, which is the national collection of underground utility marking service programs. Although utility lines are usually buried 18 inches or deeper underground, there is a chance that old equipment has not been updated to code. So, it’s always best to call to prevent severe injuries and the risk of being financially responsible for cutting a utility line.

If your bush’s root ball needs TLC, start there. Treating the base of the shrub with an herbicide for several weeks is ideal for old, large, and healthy shrubs that will be very difficult to remove by hand without a bit of help.

If you have the time for this step and feel comfortable using an herbicide in your lawn, drill 6-inch holes into the base of your shrub. Add a shrub-stump-specific herbicide purchased at your local gardening store. Cover the stump with a tarp for between four and 12 weeks, according to the instructions. Always wear protective gear and read the manufacturers directions before using any herbicide product.

Use a lopper to cut the entire shrub down to its largest roots. Leave a bit of the central trunk above ground to help you remove the root ball later. If you're removing a shrub that is a part of a larger network, you'll need to remove all surrounding shrubs or their branches to fully open up the area for the work.

If your yard's soil is dense and dry, water the area with about two inches of water and let it absorb it for several hours. The ground should not be muddy, but loose enough to easily remove with a spade. During this phase, double-check that there are no power or sprinkler system lines near the shrub roots.

Once you're ready to begin manually removing the bush stump, lightly dig around the base of the roots with a spade to reveal about an inch below the surface. You will immediately hit the surrounding large roots. Reveal the primary roots at least a foot from the root ball.

Begin by severing the roots about one foot from the center of the shrub in a circle around the root ball. You can do this in several ways depending on the thickness of the roots. 

• For small shrub stumps, cut the roots with a spade or trench shovel.

• For mid-size shrub stumps, hack the roots in a circle with an ax.

• For larger shrub stumps, use a reciprocating saw—pressing it into the topsoil—to cut the circle. 

Note: If you use a reciprocating saw, the roots will dull your blades quickly. Be sure to use a low-cost blade and have replacements at the ready.

Repeat the above cutting process six inches from the stump with your spade, ax, or reciprocating saw. Again, only use a saw if you are familiar with the tool and wearing protective gear. The roots closer to the stump will be thicker, but your first cut should make them easier to reveal and clip by shaking and loosening the sump back and forth.

Use your spade to dig out the space between the large and the small circle. Dig between six and 12 inches into the ground to reveal the sides of the root ball and access several roots directly below the old shrub.

At this point, it could be very tempting to yank the root ball up from the ground or—as some guides recommend—hitch it to your truck and step on the gas. Your shrub's root ball may still link to thick roots that run under your home, patio, or sidewalk. Pulling it up too quickly can take the rest of the lawn with it.

To be safe, use your spade, ax, or saw yet again to cut the area just below the root ball until it is easy to twist and shake out of place by hand.

The final step is to fill the hole where the shrub’s roots were. Replace the area with old topsoil, grabbing and removing any loose roots as you go. Removing this much of the plant and its roots will keep it from growing back next year.